Monostable flip-flop for controlling card punch or printer



Dec. 26, 1967' E. R; PHILLIPS 3,359,863

MONOSTABLE FLIP-FLOP FOR CONTROLLING CARD PUNCH OR PRINTER Filed March 25, 1964 DISCHARGE FIG. 2

CHARGE INVENTOR EDWIN R. PHILLIPS BY WW AGENT United States Patent 3,359,863 MONOSTABLE FLIP-FLOP FOR CONTROLLING CARD PUNCH 0R PRINTER Edwin R. Phillips, Rosemont, Pa., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 353,880

2 Claims. (CI. 91-50) This invention relates to a fluid pulse generator and more particularly to a mono-stable fluid pulse generator for generating high pressure fluid pulses of short duration for use in power applications.

In some situations where fluid energy is used to activate a load, the power requirements are low and/or the on time or load energizing time is great compared to off time, or the time during which the load need not be energized. In these situations, a simple fluid switch and one which throttles the fluid energy when the switch is in the off condition may be used.

In othersituations, for example, in the operation of high speed printers or card punches by fluid energy the duration of the fluid power pulse must be very short while the power requirements are high. Obviously, the use of the simple switch above discussed would be inappropriate in this situation because the loss of fluid energy during the off time would be prohibitively high.

Thus, where the power requirements are high and/ or the on time is short relative to the off time, an onoff valve typically is used. However, the on-off valves which are reliable for high service requirements are available only at relatively high cost. On the other hand, commercial on-off valves which sell at a reasonable price are not generally reliable for high service requirements.

The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing an inexpensive fluid switch effectively operative as an on-01f valve which is simple in construction and which has extremely good. reliability. The present invention contemplates a fluid switch capable of providing a load with high energy pulses of short duration without loss of energy during the off time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, highly reliable fluid switch eife'ctively operative as an on-ofl valve capable of providing high power, short duration pulses without loss of energy during the ofl portion of the on-01f cycle.

It is another object of the present invention toprovide a fluid pulse generator of simple construction capable of providing discrete high energy pulses of short duration.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fluid pulse generator of simple construction to provide high energy pulses of short duration without excessive losses over the duty cycle.

Numerous other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will become more apparent with the reading of the specification taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 illustrates in section a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a graphical illustration of the dischargecharge cycle of the storage element of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 1 there is shown the fluid switch or pulse generator of the present invention. All the ducts and elements of the fluid switch 10 are formed in any convenient manner in a body or member composed of any appropriate material, for example, plastic. Nozzle 12, which is adapted to receive power fluid through opening 11, supplies fluid under pressure through restrictor 13 into storage chamber 14. Storage chamber 14 narrows in diameter into orifice 16 which is formed by a protruding element 17 which juts into circular chamber 18, as shown.

A circular diaphragm 19 comprising a fluid impervious type of material such as Mylar is disposed within circular chamber 18 and has its outer rim 19a rigidly secured in body 15. In its normal position, shown by solid lines, diaphragm 19 abuts jutting member 17 to block orifice 16. Diaphragm 19 divides chamber 18 into two compartments 18a and 18b.

A bias source, not shown, supplies a low pressure bias fluid into compartment 18a of chamber 18 through opening 20 to thereby maintain diaphragm 19 in abutting relationship with the jutting element 17 to block the orifice 16. This bias fluid acts over the entire left side of diaphragm 19. The higher pressure in chamber 14 does not overcome this bias because the higher pressure in chamber 14 acts over such a small area of diaphragm 19, i.e. an area equal to the area of orifice 16.

Compartment 18b communicates with solenoid chamber 30 through opening 26 of duct 21 which includes restriction 24. Solenoid chamber communicates with the atmosphere through vent 41. Duct 21 communicates with storage chamber 14 by means of duct 22 which includes restriction 23.

A flapper arm 27 is normally held in the position shown away from opening 26 by bias spring 29. Spring 29 may be attached to body 15 in any convenient manner, for example, by the hook and eye arrangement shown in the drawing. A solenoid coil 28 energized by a source of voltage, not shown, is mounted on body 15 within chamber 30. When it is energized, solenoid 28 causes flapper arm to assume the position shown by dotted lines to cover the opening 26. On deenergization of solenoid 28 flapper arm 27 will assume the position shown in solid lines uncovering opening 26. g

A duct 31 connects compartment 18b of chamber 18 with cylinder 32. Av piston 33 is slidably disposed within cylinder 32 and is normally positioned all the way to the left, as shown by the solid lines. Cylinder 32 is provided with an exhaust port 34 which exhausts cylinder 32 of fluid when piston 33 is moved to the position shown in dotted lines. A print hammer 35 is also slidably disposed within cylinder 32. Print hammer 35 comprises impact head 36, print portion 39 and shaft portion 25 connecting impact head 36 to print portion 39. Ear portion 37, whPch is an integral part of body 15, extends into cylinder 32 forming an opening 40 substantially equal to the diameter of shaft portion 25-through which shaft portion 25 extends. Shaft portion 25 and opening 40 are so fitted that no fluid escapes through opening 40. Impact head 36 is spherical and has a diameter in excess of the diameter of the hole 40 through which shaft 25 passes. A spring 38 is disposed on shaft 25 between impact head 36 and ear portion 37 for returning print hammer 35 to its normal position after activation of piston 33 has caused print hammer 35 to move to the right and print. In practice, print portion 39 may also be a punch head for punching holes in a card or tape.

In the unoperated or rest condition of the present invention diaphragm 19 is in the position shown by solid lines blocking orifice 16 and, as aforementioned, is held in that position by the minimum bias provided by fluid in compartment 18a. In this unoperated position solenoid coil 28 is not energized and spring 29 holds flapper arm 27 in the position shown away from opening 26. Fluid in chamber 14 is supplied from a fluid power source, not shown, through opening 11, nozzle 12 and orifice restriction 13. The pressure within chamber 14 is maintained at a desired amount, designated P in the pressure time diagram of FIGURE 2. A small amount of fluid in chamber 14 is leaked through exhaust port 26 and thence lost through opening 41 through ducts 22, 21. However, restrictions 23 and 24 hold this loss down to a very minimum amount. This lost fluid is continuously being replaced by fluid from nozzle 12 which eflectively maintains the P value shown in FIGURE 2 at a constant amount.

When flapper arm is caused to move to the left and cover opening 26 in response to the energization of solenoid coil 28, the volume within compartment 18b of chamber 18 to the right of diaphragm 19 is pressurized and overcomes the bias pressure within compartment 18a. This causes diaphragm 19 to deflect to the position shown by the dotted lines thereby uncovering orifice 16. When this occurs, the whole of the pressurized fluid within chamber 14 is directed through duct 31 into cylinder 32 to force piston 33 to be moved rapidly to the right. After traveling a short distance piston 33 hits impact head 36 of print hammer 35 causing it to move to the right to the position shown by dotted lines in the performance of a desired printing operation.

When piston 33 has moved substantially to the position shown by the dotted lines, it uncovers exhaust port 34 thereby causing the power fluid in cylinder 32 to exhaust to the atmosphere or other low pressure dump. Piston 33 moves to its original position by rebounding from impact head 36. Print hammer 35 is returned to its original position by spring 38 which may also aid in re turning piston 33 to its normal position. Meanwhile flapper arm 27 is returned to its original position by means of spring 29 when solenoid 28 is deenergized. The bias pressure within compartment 18a causes diaphragm 19 to assume its original position covering orifice 16 which in turn permits pressure chamber 14 to charge up to its original pressure P Referring to FIGURE 2, it may be seen the pressure from chamber 14 is discharged very rapidly and there is a very rapid pressure drop therein. When diaphragm 19 blocks orifice 16 and flapper arm 27 uncovers opening 26, chamber 14 is rapidly charged up to its original pressure in a manner similar to the charging of a capacitor in an electrical circuit. FIGURE 2 shows that the time for charging is somewhat greater than the time of discharging. This charge time, which is of the order of milliseconds, is the only limitation on the rapidity with which fluid pulse generator may be operated.

Obviously many modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and the invention should not be construed as being limited by the embodiment shown or in any other way than by the following claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A fluid pulse generator for providing high energy fluid pulses of short duration, comprising in combination: a circular chamber, a diaphragm disposed within said circular chamber dividing said circular chamber into two compartments, fluid supply means, storage means for storing a finite volume of fluid at a desired pressure, orifice means connecting said storage means to one compartment of said circular chamber, said one compartment of said circular chamber having an outlet, means in the other compartment of said circular chamber normally biasing said diaphragm to cover said orifice means, duct means having an opening connecting said one compartment to the atmosphere, first restrictor means connecting said fluid supply means to said storage means, second restrictor means connecting said storage means to said duct means, said first and second restrictor means establishing an equilibrium pressure within said storage means, cylinder means connected to said outlet means, piston means slidably disposed within said cylinder, means for selectively covering said opening of said duct means such that the pressure build-up in said one compartment causes said diaphragm to uncover said orifice whereby the finite volume of fluid in said storage means is rapidly discharged into said cylinder to displace said piston within said cylinder. I

2. A fluid pulse. generator for providing high energy fluid pulses of short duration, comprising in combination: fluid supply means, storage means for storing a finite volume of fluid at a predetermined pressure, first restrictor means connecting said fluid supply means to said storage means, outlet means connected to said storage means, normally closed pressure responsive valve means connected between said storage means and said outlet means, second restrictor means connecting said storage means to said valve means and to an outlet having an opening to the atmosphere, cylinder means connected to said outlet means, piston means slidably disposed within said cylinder, means for blocking said opening whereby pressure build up is provided to open said valve means thereby discharging the finite volume of fluid in said storage means into said cylinder displacing said piston within said cylinder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,062,749 5/1913 Townsend 91-402 X 3,119,308 1/1964 Dantowitz 137-82 X 3,216,328 11/1965 Peterson 9150 X FOREIGN PATENTS 72,052 7/ 1916 Austria.

EDGAR W. GEOGHEGAN, Primary Examiner. MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Examiner. B. L. ADAMS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FLUID PULSE GENERATOR FOR PROVIDING HIGH ENERGY FLUID PULSES OF SHORT DURATION, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION; A CIRCULAR CHAMBER, A DIAPHRAGM DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CIRCULAR CHAMBER DIVIDING SAID CIRCULAR CHAMBER INTO TWO COMPARTMENTS, FLUID SUPPLY MEANS, STORAGE MEANS FOR STORING A FINITE VOLUME OF FLUID AT A DESIRED PRESSURE, ORIFICE MEANS CONNECTING SAID STORAGE MEANS TO ONE COMPARTMENT OF SAID CIRCULAR CHAMBER, SAID ONE COMPARTMENT OF SAID CIRCULAR CHAMBER HAVING AN OUTLET, MEANS IN THE OTHER COMPARTMENT OF SAID CIRCULAR CHAMBER NORMALLY BIASING SAID DIAPHRAGM TO COVER SAID ORIFICE MEANS, DUCT MEANS HAVING AN OPENING CONNECTING SAID ONE COMPARTMENT TO THE ATMOSPHERE, FIRST RESTRICTOR MEANS CONNECTING SAID FLUID SUPPLY MEANS TO SAID STORAGE MEANS, SECOND RESTRICTOR MEANS CONNECTING SAID STORAGE MEANS TO SAID DUCT MEANS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND RESTRICTOR MEANS ESTABLISHING AN EQUILIBRIUM PRESSURE WITHIN SAID STORAGE MEANS, CYLINDER MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID OUTLET MEANS, PISTON MEANS SLIDABLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CYLINDER, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY COVERING SAID OPENING OF SAID DUCT MEANS SUCH THAT THE PRESSURE BUILD-UP IN SAID ONE COMPARTMENT CAUSES SAID DIAPHRAGM TO UNCOVER SAID ORIFICE WHEREBY THE FINITE VOLUME OF FLUID IN SAID STROAGE MEANS IS RAPIDLY DISCHARGED INTO SAID CYLINDER TO DISPLACE SAID PISTON WITHIN SAID CYLINDER. 